KARACHI: Twenty new computer systems, valued at millions of rupees, have been discovered missing from the storage room of the Appraisement East Collectorate at Custom House Karachi, exposing severe security lapses and pointing toward internal complicity. The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) headquarters had originally provided the equipment to the collectorate, and the disappearance came to light on August 5, 2026, when officials inspected the store room and found only empty packaging materials. An internal inquiry and subsequent review of CCTV footage revealed alarming details regarding the breach. CCTV footage from August 13, 2026, at approximately 10:33 PM, captures two individuals leaving the main gate on separate motorcycles carrying the stolen computer units. During this time, night-shift guards—identified as Sepoys Laiq Ahmed, Imran, and Syed Junaid Ali Shah—abandoned their designated posts at the main gate, choosing to sit inside the guard room while leaving the gate partially open. Additionally, Customs official Arif Shah, who is officially posted at the fisheries department, was present at the main gate and seen interacting with the suspects as they transported the hardware out of the facility. The Deputy Collector of Headquarters for Appraisement East has formally requested Customs Enforcement to lead a detailed probe focusing on fixing responsibility for the gross negligence of the guard personnel and probing the alleged insider involvement of departmental staff.
